Stop the protest ban at Sussex University

We, the undersigned, wish to express our solidarity with the struggle against the privatisation of 235 jobs and express our opposition to the decision of Sussex university management to impose an injunction which bans both protest and occupations on campus until September, thus effectively also criminalising the ongoing Bramber house occupation.

It defies our essential and basic right to protest and of assembly, clearly violating the right of students, workers, and the wider community to express their opposition. This campaign is supported by thousands of people, both locally, nationally and international with a petition signed by over 5,000 people, and as was demonstrated yet again by the large numbers who mobilised for the national day of action on the 25th of March. The decision of management to ban the right to protest is an attempt to undermine the success of the campaign and occupation, and to yet again try and push through increasingly unpopular plans for privatisation.

Furthermore, we oppose the notion that Sussex university solely belongs to its management, as it also belongs to the students and staff who work, study and live there. Indeed, many of whom have expressed their concerns with the plans to outsource support staff.

We continue to support the protests and campaign against privatisation and call on the university management revoke this injunction and drop all attempts to criminalise the protestors and occupiers.